Jesuit Father Robert L. Bireley, 84, died March 14 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Father Bireley was best known for his prolific writing in the field of European history. He was a professor at Loyola University Chicago, where he taught and mentored students for more than 45 years. 

Born in Evanston, Father Bireley attended Loyola Academy, Wilmette, before entering the Society of Jesus as a novice in 1951. His Jesuit formation took him across the country and around the world.

Upon earning his doctorate in history in 1972, Father Bireley began working at Loyola University Chicago.

In 2017, Father Bireley moved to the St. Camillus senior Jesuit health care community in Wauwatosa, where he remained until his death.